Presidential Advisers and Executive Agencies

Organization of the Executive Branch President Officials handpicked by the president Lesser officials and managers

The Executive Office FDR created the Executive Office of the President in 1939 to help the president do his job.  Today it has about 2,000 employees White House Office  About 500 people who work directly for the president  Among them are who are the president’s closest political advisors  Chief of Staff is most powerful

Management and Budget The Office of Management and Budget (OMB):  prepares the federal budget  Monitors spending in hundreds of govt agencies  The federal budget is the clearest statement of the administration’s plans and goals for the coming year

National Security Council (NSC) Helps the president direct US military and foreign policy Handles matters affecting the security of our country Supervises the CIA

Other Offices Office of Administration  Provides administrative services to the executive offices of the president Council of Economic Advisors (CEA)  Help the president carry out the role of economic leader  Gives the president advice about complex economic matters such as employment, inflation, and foreign trade.

The Cabinet Cabinet- a group of presidential advisors that includes the heads of the 15 top-level executive departments The head of the Department of Justice is called the attorney general  All other department heads are called secretaries The president may also ask the VP and other top officials to be in his or her cabinet

Department of Homeland Security November 25, George W. Bush signed the Homeland Security Act of  Created the Dept. of Homeland Security to improve the nations defenses against terrorism and coordinate counter- terrorism intelligence First new department since the Department of Veterans Affairs (created in 1989)

Cabinet Responsibilities The secretaries advise the president according to their expertise There is NO mention of cabinets in the Constitution.  Began with George Washington Cabinet meets whenever the president determines that it is necessary

Vice President and First Lady VP’s have been getting more responsibility from presidents  Gore- environmental  Cheney- foreign First Lady- no mention in Constitution  Eleanor Roosevelt- young and disadvantaged  Nancy Reagan- drug abuse prevention  Michelle Obama- children, childhood obesity

The Federal Bureaucracy Federal bureaucracy- the agencies and employees of the executive branch The people who work for these organizations are called bureaucrats.

Bureaucracy in Action! The executive branch carries out the programs that Congress has created to serve the American people.  They turn new laws into action by deciding how to apply the laws to daily life  Departments and agencies administer the day-to-day operations of the federal government  Deliver mail, collect taxes, etc.  Federal agencies regulate various activities  Broadcasting companies, labor unions, banks, airlines, etc.

Independent Agencies Federal board or commission that is not part of any cabinet department Executive agencies- responsible for dealing with certain specialized areas within the govt. (NASA) Government corporations- like private businesses, except the govt owns and operates them. (USPS) Regulatory Boards and Commissions- supposed to protect the public; make and enforce rules for certain industries or groups (Federal Communications Commission)

Government Workers Top leadership jobs go to political appointees  People whom the president has chosen because they have proven executive ability or were important supporters of the president’s election campaign. 90% of all national govt employees are civil service workers  People ranging from clerks to doctors and lawyers who are permanently employed by the govt based on the civil service system  The practice of hiring govt workers on the basis of open, competitive examinations and merit.

Development of the Civil Service System Spoils System (Pre-1883)- govt jobs went to people as a reward for their political support.  Public dissatisfaction and outrage  President James Garfield- assassinated in 1881 by a man who was refused a job under this system.

Development of the Civil Service System Pendleton Act (Civil Service Reform Act) –placed limits on the number of jobs a new president could hand out to friends and backers.  The Office of Personal Management (OPM) directs the civil service system today.  Sets standards for federal jobs  Merit system- hiring people into govt jobs on the basis of their qualifications  Government officials hire new workers from lists of people who have passed the tests or otherwise met civil service standards.